Adjustable dumbbell

ABSTRACT

An adjustable dumbbell device includes a handle bar, and a weight member having an engaging member for engaging with the handle bar and for detachably attaching the weight member to the handle bar, and a spring biased latch engaged with the handle bar and the weight member for detachably securing the weight member to the handle bar. The handle bar includes a slot for engaging with the engaging member of the weight member. The spring biased latch is engaged in the handle bar and extended into the slot of the handle bar. The weight member includes an engaging recess or element for engaging with the spring biased latch of the end member of the handle bar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an adjustable dumbbell, and moreparticularly to an adjustable dumbbell assembly having an easily andquickly adjustable structure for allowing the adjustable dumbbell to beeasily and quickly actuated or operated or controlled by the user.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various kinds of typical adjustable dumbbells have been developed andprovided for conducting various weight lift exercise operations, forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,690 to Schook, U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,413 toKupferman, U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,997 to Roth et al., U.S. Pat. No.6,656,093 to Chen, U.S. Pat. No. 7,223,214 to Chen, U.S. Pat. No.7,731,641 to Chen, U.S. Pat. No. 7,811,213 to Chen, and U.S. Pat. No.7,887,469 to Chen disclose several of the typical adjustable dumbbellseach including a number of weight rings that may be selectively oradjustably secured together with a handle bar for adjusting the weightof the dumbbells and for allowing the weight rings of different weightto be selectively actuated or operated by the user.

Normally, in the typical adjustable dumbbells, two extension carriers ortracks are formed or provided on the end portions or extended outwardlyfrom the end portions of the central handle bar, and the weight ringsmay be selectively or adjustably secured to the extension carriers ortracks.

However, the extension carriers or tracks are required to be permanentlyformed or provided on the end portions of the central handle bar suchthat the extension carriers or tracks and the central handle bar mayform and may include a greatly increased length for the typicaladjustable dumbbells and such that the length of the typical adjustabledumbbells may not be suitably reduced or decreased.

In addition, a slidable adjusting latch device is normally and typicallyengaged in the handle bar and movable relative to the handle bar inorder to engage with the weight rings of different weight, such that thehandle bar have to be excavated to form a longitudinal channel thereinfor slidably receiving or engaging with the adjusting latch device, andsuch that the strength of the handle bar will be decreased greatly.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate theafore-described disadvantages of the conventional adjustable dumbbells.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide anadjustable dumbbell assembly including an adjustable structure that maybe easily and quickly adjusted to different weights and that may beeasily and quickly actuated or operated or controlled by the user.

The other objective of the present invention is to provide an adjustabledumbbell assembly including a structure having no extension carriers ortracks formed or provided on the end portions or extended outwardly fromthe end portions of the central handle bar such that the total length ofthe dumbbell assembly may be selectively decreased.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided anadjustable dumbbell assembly comprising a handle bar including a firstend member, a weight member including an engaging member for engagingwith the first end member of the handle bar and for detachably attachingthe weight member to the first end member of the handle bar, and aspring biased latch engaged with the first end member of the handle barand the weight member for detachably securing the weight member to thefirst end member of the handle bar. It is to be noted that no slidableadjusting latch device is required to be engaged in the handle bar andmovable relative to the handle bar in order to engage with the weightrings of different weight, such that the total length of the dumbbellassembly may be selectively decreased, and it is to be noted that thespring biased latch is normally engaged with the handle bar and theweight member for detachably securing the weight member to the handlebar.

The handle bar includes a slot formed in the first end member of thehandle bar, and the engaging member, such as a dovetail of the weightmember is engaged with the corresponding dovetail slot of the first endmember of the handle bar for detachably attaching or securing the weightmember to the first end member of the handle bar.

The engaging member of the weight member is preferably selected from adovetail. The spring biased latch is provided in the first end member ofthe handle bar and extended into the slot of the first end member of thehandle bar for selectively engaging with the weight member and fordetachably securing the weight member to the handle bar.

The weight member includes an engaging element provided therein forengaging with the spring biased latch of the end member of the handlebar. The engaging element of the weight member is preferably selectedfrom an engaging recess formed in the engaging member of the weightmember.

The weight member includes a slot formed therein, and a second weightmember includes an engaging member for engaging with the slot of theweight member and for detachably attaching the second or other weightmember to the weight member. The weight member includes a spring biasedlatch provided in the weight member and extended into the slot of theweight member for detachably attaching the second weight member to theweight member.

The handle bar includes a groove formed therein, and an additionalweight element is selectively received in and engaged with the groove ofthe handle bar. The handle bar includes a second spring biased latchengaged with the additional weight element for detachably securing theadditional weight element to the first end member of the handle bar. Theadditional weight element includes a notch formed therein for engagingwith the second spring biased latch.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from a careful reading of the detailed description providedhereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of an adjustable dumbbell assemblyin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another upper perspective view of the adjustable dumbbellassembly similar to FIG. 1, in which one half of the adjustable dumbbellassembly has been cut off for showing the inner structure of theadjustable dumbbell assembly;

FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view of the adjustable dumbbell assembly;

FIG. 4 is another partial exploded view of the adjustable dumbbellassembly similar to FIG. 3, in which one half of the adjustable dumbbellassembly has been cut off for showing the inner structure of theadjustable dumbbell assembly;

FIG. 5 is a further partial exploded view of the adjustable dumbbellassembly;

FIG. 6 is a still further partial exploded view of the adjustabledumbbell assembly;

FIG. 7 is a still further partial exploded view of the adjustabledumbbell assembly, as seen from another direction opposite to that shownin FIG. 6; and

FIGS. 8, 9 are diagrams illustrating the arrangements of the panels ofthe control device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-7, an adjustabledumbbell assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises acentral handle bar 10, and a number of weights 50, such as weight ringsor plates or members 50 to be selectively or adjustably secured to thecentral handle bar 10, and to be easily and quickly adjusted todifferent weights for the adjustable dumbbell assembly. As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the handle bar 10 includes an elongated or longitudinalstructure or configuration, and includes one or more (such as two) endportions or enlarged end members 11, 12 formed or provided thereon, theenlarged end members 11, 12 each include a slot 13, such as a dovetailslot 13 formed in the outer portion thereof (FIG. 5) and located orfaced or directed away from the handle bar 10. The end members 11, 12 ofthe handle bar 10 each include a spring biased latch 14 formed orprovided therein and extended or engaged into the slot 13 thereof (FIG.5).

The weight members 50 each include an engaging member 51, such as adovetail 51 formed or provided on the inner portion 52 thereof (FIGS. 6,7) and faced or directed toward the end member 11, 12 of the handle bar10 respectively for selectively engaging with the dovetail slot 13 ofthe end member 11, 12 or of the handle bar 10, and for detachably orchangeably or removably attaching or mounting or securing to the endmember 11, 12 of the handle bar 10 respectively. It is preferable thatthe dovetail slot 13 of the end member 11, 12 or of the handle bar 10and the dovetail or engaging member 51 of the weight member 50 include atilted or inclined structure or configuration having a relatively widerlower end or portion 15; 53 and a relatively narrower upper end orportion 16; 54 for allowing the engaging member 51 to be easily andquickly engaged into the slot 13 of the end member 11, 12 or of thehandle bar 10.

The weight members 50 each further include an engaging element 55, suchas an engaging cavity or recess 55 formed therein, and such as formed inthe dovetail or engaging member 51 or formed and located close to thedovetail or engaging member 51 for selectively receiving or engagingwith the spring biased latch 14 of the end member 11, 12 or of thehandle bar 10, and for detachably attaching or mounting or securing theweight member 50 to the end member 11, 12 of the handle bar 10respectively. The weight members 50 each further include an engagingslot 56, such as a dovetail slot 56 formed the outer portion thereof(FIGS. 1-7) and located or faced or directed away from the handle bar 10for selectively receiving or engaging with the dovetail or engagingmember 51 of the other weight members 50, and for detachably attachingor mounting or securing the weight member 50 to the other weight members50.

The end members 11, 12 of the handle bar 10 each further include one ormore (such as two) channels or grooves 17 formed therein for selectivelyreceiving or engaging with the other or additional weight elements 60,and each further include one or more (such as two) other spring biasedlatches 18 (FIGS. 2, 4) attached or mounted or engaged therein andextended or engaged into the grooves 17 of the end members 11, 12 of thehandle bar 10 respectively for selectively engaging with the additionalweight elements 60 and for detachably attaching or mounting or securingthe additional weight elements 60 to the end members 11, 12 of thehandle bar 10.

As best shown in FIG. 5, for example, the additional weight elements 60each include a notch 61 formed therein (FIG. 5) for selectivelyreceiving or engaging with the spring biased latch 18 of the end member11, 12 or of the handle bar 10, and for detachably attaching or mountingor securing the additional weight elements 60 to the end member 11, 12of the handle bar 10 respectively. It is preferable that the additionalweight elements 60 each further include one or more (such as two)shoulders or catches 62 (FIG. 5) formed or provided therein forselectively contacting or engaging with the end member 11, 12 of thehandle bar 10 and for anchoring or retaining or positioning theadditional weight elements 60 to the end member 11, 12 of the handle bar10 respectively and for preventing the additional weight elements 60from being moved or disengaged or separated from the end member 11, 12of the handle bar 10 respectively.

The adjustable dumbbell assembly in accordance with the presentinvention further comprises a base support 7 including one or more (suchas two) receptacles or housings 70 connected or coupled together withone or more (such as two) rods or links 71, and the housings 70 eachinclude a depression or chamber 72 formed therein for receiving orengaging with the weight members 50 and/or the additional weightelements 60, and an actuating or selecting or control device 8 disposedor engaged into the housings 70 for selectively contacting or engagingwith the spring biased latches 14, 18, 57 and for selectivelydisengaging the spring biased latches 14, 18, 57 from the weight members50 and/or the additional weight elements 60 respectively.

For example, the control device 8 includes a number of discs or panels80, 81 pivotally or rotatably supported or engaged in chambers 72 of thehousings 70 respectively with a rod or spindle 82, and a hand grip orknob 83 attached or mounted or secured to the spindle 82 and rotated inconcert with the spindle 82 for pivoting or rotating the spindle 82 andthe weight members 50 and/or the additional weight elements 60 relativeto the housings 70. The end member 11, 12 of the handle bar 10 and theweight members 50 and the additional weight elements 60 each furtherinclude a cavity 19 (FIG. 5), 58 (FIGS. 1-7), 63 (FIG. 5) formed thereinand communicating with the slot 13, 56 thereof and/or the notch 61 ofthe additional weight element 60 (FIG. 5) for selectively receiving orengaging with the panels 80, 81 and for allowing the panels 80, 81 to beselectively contacted or engaged with the spring biased latches 14, 18,57.

For example, the panels 80, 81 each may include one or more bulges orprojections 84 extended radially and outwardly therefrom for selectivelycontacting or engaging with the spring biased latches 14, 18, 57, andfor selectively disengaging the spring biased latches 14, 18, 57 fromthe weight members 50 and/or the additional weight elements 60respectively. The arrangement of the projections 84 of the panels 80, 81may be arranged as that shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 for disengaging theselected spring biased latches 14, 18, 57 from the weight members 50and/or the additional weight elements 60 respectively and fordetermining how many of the weight members 50 and/or the additionalweight elements 60 to be attached to and carried with the handle bar 10.

As shown in FIG. 7, the knob 83 includes a number of cavities ordepressions 85 are formed in the outer peripheral portion of the knob 83and preferably equally spaced from each other, and one of the housings70 of the base support 7 includes a spring biased projection 73 (FIGS.2, 4, 6-7) disposed or engaged therein for selectively engaging with thedepressions 85 of the knob 83 and for solidly and stably anchoring orsecuring or retaining or positioning the knob 83 and the spindle 82 andthe panels 80, 81 to the housings 70 of the base support 7 at theselected angular position.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 1-5, the spindle 82 and thus the panels80, 81 may be pivoted or rotated relative to housings 70 of the basesupport 7 with the knob 83 for actuating the selected projections 84 ofthe panels 80, 81 to engage with or to be disengaged or separated fromthe spring biased latches 14, 18, 57, and thus for determining how manyof the weight members 50 and/or the additional weight elements 60 to beattached to and carried with the handle bar 10.

It is further to be noted that the weight members 50 and/or theadditional weight elements 60 may be selectively or adjustably securedto the end member 11, 12 of the handle bar 10 with the spring biasedlatches 14, 18, 57 respectively, and the selected spring biased latches14, 18, 57 may be selectively actuated or disengaged or separated fromthe weight members 50 and/or the additional weight elements 60 fordetermining how many of the weight members 50 and/or the additionalweight elements 60 to be attached to and carried with the handle bar 10.

Accordingly, the adjustable dumbbell assembly in accordance with thepresent invention includes a structure that may be easily and quicklyadjusted to different weights, and having no extension carriers ortracks formed or provided on the end portions or extended outwardly fromthe end portions of the central handle bar such that the total length ofthe dumbbell assembly may be selectively decreased.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure hasbeen made by way of example only and that numerous changes in thedetailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:
 1. An adjustable dumbbell assembly comprising: a handle barincluding a first end member, a weight member including an engagingmember for engaging with said first end member of said handle bar andfor detachably attaching said weight member to said first end member ofsaid handle bar, and a spring biased latch engaged with said first endmember of said handle bar and said weight member for detachably securingsaid weight member to said first end member of said handle bar.
 2. Theadjustable dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said handlebar includes a slot formed in said first end member of said handle bar,and said engaging member of said weight member is engaged with said slotof said first end member of said handle bar for detachably attachingsaid weight member to said first end member of said handle bar.
 3. Theadjustable dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein saidengaging member of said weight member is a dovetail.
 4. The adjustabledumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said spring biasedlatch is provided in said first end member of said handle bar andextended into said slot of said first end member of said handle bar. 5.The adjustable dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidweight member includes an engaging element provided therein for engagingwith said spring biased latch of said end member of said handle bar. 6.The adjustable dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein saidengaging element of said weight member is an engaging recess formed insaid engaging member of said weight member.
 7. The adjustable dumbbellassembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said weight member includes aslot formed therein, and a second weight member includes an engagingmember for engaging with said slot of said weight member and fordetachably attaching said second weight member to said weight member. 8.The adjustable dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein saidweight member includes a spring biased latch provided in said weightmember and extended into said slot of said weight member for detachablyattaching said second weight member to said weight member.
 9. Theadjustable dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said handlebar includes a groove formed therein, and an additional weight elementis selectively engaged with said groove of said handle bar.
 10. Theadjustable dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein said handlebar includes a second spring biased latch engaged with said additionalweight element for detachably securing said additional weight element tosaid first end member of said handle bar.
 11. The adjustable dumbbellassembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein said additional weight elementincludes a notch formed therein for engaging with said second springbiased latch.